billingslea



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. M. P. BILLINGSLEA. FOLDING BBDSTBAD.

No. 425,399. Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. M. F. BILLINGSLEA.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

No. 425399. Patented Apr. 15,1890.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

No Model.)

A. M. P. BILLINGSLEA.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

Patented Apr. 15, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

ALVAH M. F. BILLINGSLEA, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWVO-THIRDS TO 'VALENTINE H. KETOl-IAM AND SAM T. FISK, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 425,399, dated April 15, 1890. Application filed June 1'7, 1889. Serial No. 314,620. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVAH M. F. BILLINGS- LEA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of 5 Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to folding bedsteads of the class ordinarily combined to the wardrobe, book case, or other articles of furniture.

The object of the invention is to provide a foldable bedstead of few parts and so arranged as to be convenient of manipulation and to entirely fold within the article of furniture to which it is pivotally secured.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear and side of the book-easehav 2 5 ing a bedstead constructed in accordance with my invention pivotally secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudial vertical section through the same with the bed folded. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the section of the book-case, showing 0 yieldingsupport for the bedstead when being folded. Fig. at is a sectional View of the same, showing the modified form of tension device. Fig. 5 is a front sectional view of the book-case showing anti-friction rollers secured thereto,

3 5 and portions of the side rails and curved track into which the anti-friction rollers revolve. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the bookcase and side roller, showing'the rail and the rod attached thereto, which operates the leg 40 of the bedstead. Fig. '7 is aview of a section of one of the side rails, showing the curved track on which the anti -friction roller rcvolves, and also a projecting catch upon the end of the bed-frame for engagement with the spring.

A designates an article of furniture, which may be a book-case, a wardrobe, or any preferred article of analogous character formed withbides B B, projecting rearwardly from the back 0. Upon each side B are formed curved bearings D, onto which move anti-friction rollers E, secured to the pivoted end of the foldable bed-frame F. Frame F comprises side bars G, foot-board H, and cross-bar H. Upon each side B of the article of furniture 5 5 are pivoted anti-friction rollers I, which move in the trackway J upon each of the side bars G, the trackway being of the contour to allow the bed-frame when folded to rest with antifriction rollers F. .near the floor, and when ex- 6c tended to allow said rollers to travel upon the curved portion 1) of the sides.

K designates a projecting hook, formed centrally of the length of bar H and extending through the vertical slot K in the backing O 6 of the bookcase, said vertical slot serving also to guide the hook and prevent any possible lateral movement of the bed portion.

L designates a flexible counter-balance for the bed-frame when being lowered, and also a means of assisting in raising the same when being folded, and consists of spiral springs M, connected by an intermediate rope M, secured to the sides of the book-case in front in the backing G and in the path of travel of the hook K. Tension is given to the flexible counter-balance L by means of pulleys N, against the end side of which the rope M bears when put in tension, the pulleys Nbeing adjustable by means of the threaded rod N, by'which said pulleys are raised or lowered, the lower ends of said rods normally resting on the lower part of the fixed portion, whereby they may be adjusted vertically.

The legs 0 of the bed-frame are pivoted to 8 the side bars at O, and are automatically folded when the frame is raised or thrown into proper position to support the frame when being lowered through the medium of rods P, secured to the legs at P and extending along 0 the entire sides of the side bars G, being held in position by staples Q, and the front end of the rod being bent at right angles at P to pass through an elongated slotR in each side bar and project in the path of metal plates S, secured upon the sides B B of the bookcase.

With this construction the operation is as follows: The bed being'folded, as shown in vertical section in Fig. 2, to lower the same I00 the operator pulls upon the frame F, causing the rollers E to move from their position near the floor onto the curved bearing D, the antifriction rollers I traveling in the trackway J and until the frame F has been moved about forty-five degrees, when the angle portion of rod P strikes plate S, and as the bed-frame completes the angle of ninety degrees projects the legs in proper position to support the bed-frame.

To assist the operator in sustaining the weight of the bed when being lowered, hook K engages with the flexible counter-balance L as soon as the frame has passed an angle of twenty degrees,'and the tension of the counterbalanceincreasesas thebedislowered,thereby almost entirely relieving the same of weight.

In folding the bed, it is only necessary for the operator to exercise a slight degree of' force, as the counter-balance L aids in raising the same.

In Fig. 4: I have shown a modified form of producing tension upon the counter-balance L, which consists of a threaded rod '1, passed through the frame of the book-case, and having a collar T, which bears against the portion of the spring M threaded upon the rod T. In this construction, to increase the tension of counter-balance L, it is only necessary to turn the rod T, thereby depressing collar T and increasing the tension upon the support.

It will be seen that the operative parts are simple of construction, efficient in operation, and not liable to get out of repair.

What I claim is 1. In a folding bed, the combination, with a fixed portion and the folding portion pivotally connected thereto, of the vertical rods having threaded ends and secured within the fixed portion near each side of the same and each carryinga collar, the spiral springs secured to said rods below the collars and the rope connecting said spiral springs, and a projection carried by the pivotal portion adapted to engage said rope, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

2. In a folding bed, the combination, with a fixed article of furniture, of a flexible counter-balance extending transversely across the same and secured at the sides, said fixed portion having a vertical slot formed in its rear side, and a foldable bed portion pivoted to the fixed portion and carrying a forwardlyproj ecting hook extending through and guided by the vertical slot, said hook engaging with the flexible counter-balance, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a folding bed, the combination, with a fixed portion having anti-friction rollers upon the inner sides thereof and curved tracks secured to said sides below the rollers, of a foldable bed portion having semicircularly-curved bearing-tracks upon the outer sides of the same near its rear end, adapted to run on the anti-friction rollers secured to the inner sides of the fixed portion, and the antifriction rollers carried at the rear ends of the foldable bed portion, adapted to engage the curved tracks secured upon the fixed portion, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a folding bed, the combination, with a fixed portion, of a flexible counter-balance extending transversely across the fixed portion and secured thereto at the sides and the vertically-adjustable bars connected with the flexible counter-balance to regulate the tension of the same, said counter-balance consisting of coiled-spring end portions and a central connecting cord or rope adapted to be engaged by a hook upon the foldable bed portion, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a folding bed, the combination, with a fixed portion having anti-friction rollers upon the inner sides thereof and curved tracks secured to said sides below the rollers, of a foldable bed portion having semicircularly-curved bearing-tracks upon the outer sides of the same near its rear end, adapted to run on the anti-friction rollers secured to the inner sides of the fixed portion, the antifriction rollers carried at the rear ends of the foldable bed portion, adapted to run upon the curved tracks secured upon the fixed portion, and afiexible counter-balance secured within the fixed portion and adapted to be engaged by the folding portion, whereby the movements of said portion are steadied, as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVAl-I M., F. BILLINGSLEA.

\Vitnesses:

O. S. BRUMBACK, CARROLL J. WEBsrER. 

